Utrecht vs Excelsior Predictions

Utrecht finally got their first win of the new year at the fifth time of asking, when they just edged out newly promoted De Graafschap 1-0 away. This weekend Utrecht return to more familiar surroundings where they will face an Excelsior side that sit point point above the relegation places, but have won three of their last four in the Eredivisie.

A second half Simon Gustafson proved enough for Utrecht to beat De Graafschap on Sunday, but the hosts will have been disappointed not to have taken something from the game after having 59% of the overall possession and eleven shots during the ninety minutes. Excelsior’s game against Emmen didn’t really get started until around the hour mark when de Leeuw put the newly promoted visitors in front. However, Excelsior responded well to going behind and equalised three minutes later through Edwards and took the lead in the sixty-fifth minute when good work from Edwards setup Eckert to score the winner.

The recent head to head record between the two clubs and their results heading into Saturday’s game suggests we will see both teams score and over 2.5 goals. We’re also leaning towards a home win now that Utrecht have ended their winless run in 2019 and given the visitors recent away record. Each of the last six matches between these two clubs have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals, and Utrecht have won four and drawn two of those encounters. Three of the hosts last six competitive matches have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals, while four of Excelsior’s last five have also with both teams on the scoreboard and at least three goals scored. Excelsior have lost their last four games on the road and head into Saturday’s match in hit and miss form with three wins and three defeats. While Utrecht have only won one of their last six matches, the hosts did perform very well during the first half of the season and we believe their poor run of form has come to an end.

Gustafson is once again Utrecht’s out and out top scorer in the Eredivisie with six goals, after scoring the winner against De Graafschap last time out. Messaoud leads the way in front of goal for the visitors with seven in the league so far, but Bruins, who has scored five goals, could miss the game through injury which would be a massive blow for the visitors. We’re confident that both teams will score and over 2.5 goals will be produced in Saturday’s match, and have backed Utrecht to win the game 3-1. This is a fixture that has of late always produced goals for both teams, but its the hosts who remain unbeaten in their last six encounters with Excelsior. Utrecht have ended their winless run and now face an Excelsior side who have lost their last four game on the road.